Name: ERIC WILSON SANTOS CABRAL
Type: MSc dissertation
Publication date: 19/05/2017
Summary: In the Brazilian scenario from 2001 to 2015, the value of diesel rose 210%, which
directly reflects the costs of the companies in the transportation segment. Among the
challenges in the daily life of heavy haul railways is the cost reduction, which can be
achieved by improving energy efficiency. It is then necessary to act effectively to
seek the reduction of the ratio of liters of fuel consumed per Gross Ton kilometers
multiplied by thousand (L/KTKB). This study aimed to identify which controlled
variables in the railroads have a correlation with KTKB. Statistical analysis and
continuous rail simulation tools were used, within scenarios defined according to the
operational reality of a heavy haul railroad. The variables analyzed were the average
weight per wagon, the number of stops of trains, average kilometers between stops
(KMEP) and the type of train formation (TF). The possibility of saving with the change
in the operational procedure of stops of the trains for changes of drivers was
evaluated. In addition to the simulations, the fuel volume in the tank began to be
monitored in real time, a system of shutdown and automatic locomotive activation
was implemented and the operators were made aware of the reduction of fuel
consumption. As a result, it was observed that the energy efficiency of the railway
improved by 13% over the period 2014 to 2016, with a reduction in diesel
consumption of 1.93 L/KTKB to 1.68 L/KTKB.
